Iraqi woman with rare genetic disorder gets new lease of life

A 27-year-old Iraqi woman suffering from a rare genetic disorder, which resulted in duplication of several vital organs like urinary bladder, ureter and vagina, got a new lease of life following a surgery in the national capital region.
She had caudal duplication syndrome, a disorder with only about 30 cases reported worldwide so far.
"She had two urinary bladders with two urethras, two uterus, two vaginas and two small and large intestines. One of the colons in her body was opening in between the vaginas. This opening also resulted in fecal incontinence, causing great physical discomfort and repeated infections," said Dr Sanjay Gogoi, director, urology and renal transplant at Fortis Memorial Research Institute (FMRI), Gurgaon.

A management student in Baghdad, the woman had adapted to a strict lifestyle in order to pursue her dreams. As she had no control on her second colon, she wore diapers all the time and ate sparingly, he said.
At Fortis, she underwent a seven-hour-long reconstructive surgery on April 18 and has made a full recovery without any complications.
"It was a difficult case, where genitoplasty and colocolonic anastomosis were performed on the woman through the seven-hour-long surgery. We were able to establish a connection between the two large intestines and completely remove the 'vaginal-colon'. External and internal genitalia were reconstructed and her reproductive organs were saved, even enabling her to bear children in future," the doctor said.